Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has announced a regulatory overhaul to empower general practitioners (GPs) with advanced medical skills, including performing emergency caesarean sections (C-sections), in a bid to reduce maternal mortality in remote areas.
The move comes as Indonesia grapples with preventable childbirth deaths due to a critical shortage of obstetric specialists in regions like Nias Island and Taliabu Island, where access to emergency care is severely limited.
“Many pregnant women die because they cannot reach specialists in time. Travel from Nias to Sumatra alone takes three to four hours,” Budi revealed during a press briefing Wednesday (May 14, 2025) following a meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR).
He cited a harrowing incident in Lampung, where a pregnant woman was rushed by boat but died untreated due to the absence of trained medical personnel.
To address the crisis, the ministry will formalize a “task-shifting” policy—a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed approach—allowing GPs to perform life-saving procedures under structured guidelines. Historically, Indonesian GPs have been informally trained in such interventions, but legal uncertainties have deterred many from acting in emergencies.
“We will establish clear regulations and formal training so GPs can confidently perform these procedures. Emergency care cannot wait,” Budi emphasized.
The policy aims to bridge Indonesia’s healthcare disparity, ensuring that no more lives are lost due to delayed or inaccessible obstetric care. (BL/Antara)